Axle-box cover.



N0. 817,753. PATENTED APR. 17, 1906. E. DBNEGRE.

AXLB BOX COVER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5. 1903 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 817,753. PATENTED APR. 17, 1906. E. DENBGRE.

AXLE BOX COVER.

APPLICATION FILED DB0. 5. 1903 z SHEETS-SHEET z.

narran Sra'rnS PATENT OFFICE..

EDWARD DENEGRE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO lMCCORD & COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A ACORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

AXLE-BQX COVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April, 17, 1906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD DENEGRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAxle-Box Covers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the Same.

Mv present invention relates to car-axlebox lids, and has for its object to improve the same in the several particulars hereinafter noted.

The invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

The leading feature of my invention is directed to the provision of a lid which is universally adj ustable-that is, may adapt itself to the mouth-openin of the box-and which, furthermore, when c osed will interlock with the box. Both of the above features are extremely desirable, and they have not hitherto, so far as I am aware, been incorporated or combined in the same device.

The invention contemplates various other features of improvement, all of which are attained in the improved form of lid and lidsup ort illustrated in the drawings and hereina ter specifically described.

. In the drawings like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is aview in front elevation, showin a car-axle box having applied thereto a li desi ned in accordance with my invention. Igig. 2 is a vertical section on the line x2 :v2 of Fig. 1, some parts of the axle being broken away. Fi 3 is a detail in horizontal section on the Fine m3 m3 of Fig. 2. Fic. 4 is a, detail in horizontal section on the line ai* of Fig. 2, some parts being broken away. Figs. 5 and 6 are sections taken on the line x5 of Fig. 2 looking toward the left at the former and toward the right at the latter. Fig. 7 shows the 'lid-carrying arm in detail sectioned on the same line as in Fig. 2; and Fig. 8 is a section corresponding to Fig. 2,

lbut with the lid shown in an open position by full lines and in an unlatched but closed position by dottedlines.

The numeral 1 indicates the axle box,

which at its upper portion and adjacent to its lid-opening 2 is formed with a heavy hingelug 3, having a projecting fulcrum edge 4. At the lower ortion vof the opening 2 the axle-box 1 is flbrmed with an internal lockilange for a purpose which will presently appear, and it may also be here noted that the ase of the lug 3 is cut away just above the openin 2` to form a transverse channel or seat 6 or a purpose which will also presently a pear. The lid 7 is carried at the free end o an arm 8, which arm is preferably of shelllike form and is hinged to the box-lu 3 by a hinge-bolt 9, passed through the saidug and through the lug-embracin side anges of the said arm. At its free en the lever-arm 8 is formed with a transverse web 10, that is set inward with respect to the outer web of the arm. TheA web 10 is formed with an elongated slot 11 and with an oblique or beveled cam-surface 12 for coperation with the lid, as will presently be noted. The outer web of the arm 8 is terminated sho'rt of its free end in a transverse spring bearinor or rib 13, and at its extreme free end it is formed with an opposing spring-bearing, shown as afforded by a pair of laterally-spaced bearing-lugs 14. A fiat leaf-spring 15 reacts against the springbearings 13 and` 14 of the arm 8 and at its other end engages in the closed position of the lug with the fulcrurn edge 4 of the hingelug 3 and in the open position of the lid with the flattened upper surface of the said lug.

The lid 7 at its central portion is formed with an outwardly-projecting hub 16 and with an oblique beveled cam-surface 17. The.

hub portion 16 works loosely through the elonUated slot 11 of the lever 8 and is permanently secured to the web 10 of said lever by a rivet 18 and a washer 19. The hub 16 is long enough to permit the lid to move laterally with respect to the web 10, and the elongation of the slot 11 permits the lid to move ongitudinally of the lever-that is, in a vertical direction-when the said lever is turned downward. At its lower portion the lid 7 is formed with a latch or lock lug 20, which is adapted to interlock with the lockilange 5 of the box, and thus lock the lid in a closed position, as shown in Fig. 2. Furthermore, the under surface of the lug 20 is beveled inward and upward, so that when the lid is closed under the action of the spring 15 the said lug will engage with the lock-fiange 5, force the lid slightly upward on the lever,

IOO

and after passing inward beyond the said flange will permit the lid to again drop under the action of gravity, and thus lock the lid in its closed position. It is im ortant to here note that when the lid is c osed, as above described, the beveled camsurfaces 12 and 17 of the arm 8 and lid 7, respectively, cooperate under the pressure of the spring to force the lid downward, and thus assist gravity in automatically locking the lid in a closed position. Furthermore, the said camsurfaces under the pressure from the spring tend to keep the lid forced downward and its lock-lug 2 0 interlocked with the lock-fiange 5. At its extreme lower edge the lid is formed with a depending finger-piece 21, which may be conveniently taken hold of to unlock and raise the lid. As is obvious, to

unlock the lid it is necessary to first force the Same slightly upward, so as to raise its lockliig 2O above the lock-flange 5, as shown by- #dotted lines in Fig. 8. This being done, the lid may of course be readily turned upward into the position shown by full lines in Fig. 8. As shown, the lid is formed at its upper edge with an inturned flange 22, which when the lid is closed and locked bears against the upper portion `of the box and affords a dustproof joint between the lid and the box. The groove or seat 6 in the hinge-lug 3 affords clearance for the flange 22 when the lid is slid upward, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 8, to unlock the lid preparatory to opening the same.

As is evident, with the lid loosely connected at its central portion to the free end of the lidcarrying arm 8 the said lid is capable of a limited universal movement to adapt itself to the face of the box, surrounding its opening 2. The lips 23 on the arm 8 embrace the side of the projecting lid portion 17 and hold the lid from rotatin on the said arm.

Both the 2rfid and its carr in -lever 8 are preferably formed from ma lea le iron. lf

oth were cast together, they would warp,.

and it would be impossible to so mount 4them s to always tightly close the opening of the i believe l am the first to provide a lid of -the above general character which is mounted. with freedom for movements to adapt itself to the face of the boxopening and which lid will interlock with the box when closed. Hence it will be understood that the device described above is capable of modification within the scope of my invention as herein set forth and claimed.

What ll claim, and desire to secure by Let- 1ters Patent of the UnitedI States, .is as fol-- ows:

1. The combination with a journal-box, of a lid having means for interlocking with the box, a lid-supporting lever pivoted to the box, and joint devices connecting the lid and the lever, with freedom for `a limited sliding motion in respect to each other, whereby the lid may be made to interlock with the box in its closed position, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a journal-box, of a lid having a lock-lug for engagement with the box, a lid-supporting lever pivoted to the box, joint devices connecting said lid and lever, with freedom for a limited sliding motion of the lid in respect to said lever, and a s ring reactin between the box, the lever an said lid, an operative to force the lid lengthwise of the lever in the closing movement, whereby the lid will be automatically locked to the box under the action of said spring, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a journal-box, of a lid having a beveled lock-lug for engagement with the lower lip or flange of the boxmouth, a lid-supporting lever pivoted to the box, joint devices connecting said lid and lever, with freedom for a limited universal movement of the lid in respect to the lever, and permitting a sliding movement lengthwise of the lever greater than the movement in any other direction, and a flat spring reacting between the box, the lever and the lid, and operative automatically to close the lid and to force the same into interlocking engagement with the box, and also operative to hold the lid in its open position, substantially as described.

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses..

EDWARD DENEGRE. i 1Witnesses:

JAMES; D. DENEGRE, MORRILL DUNN. 

